Protect Perdido's pedestrians

In Shannon Nickinson's May 10 column about pedestrian fatalities in our area, she mentions how prevention is a two-way street. In particular, wearing light or reflective clothing, carrying flashlights and being sure to use crosswalks.

All of these are very good suggestions, however one of our most visited and enjoyed areas of the county has no true pedestrian pathways, and not one crosswalk. This is a travesty given the thousands of visitors and homeowners alike who bravely walk, run, bike or push a baby stroller along Florida State Road 292.

Any day of the week, and more frequently during the spring and summer months, you will see families with small children in tow - one in arms, one in a stroller, scurrying across the treacherous road from their beachfront accommodations to the local deli or restaurant.

I am talking about Perdido Key Drive. Home to some 3,600 condominiums, townhouses and single-family residences, and a major ad valorem tax contributor both to the county and to the state. Home to Rosamond Johnson Beach of the Gulf Islands National Seashore, and two-time "best beach" award-winning state park beaches.

So, when recently visited by a candidate for Rep. Clay Ford's vacated position in the state House of Representatives, the Perdido Key Chamber of Commerce clearly and emphatically proclaimed the most important thing to our community was "Real pedestrian pathways, and real marked crosswalks."

Sure, there are a lot of other things on the list of folks who either call Perdido Key home, or have a business here, but this is a slam dunk and should top the agenda. No "hot potato" here!

The safety and well-being of the public is in jeopardy today, and has been for years. Now is the time for that to be remedied. We need not wait for any other roadway improvement project to provide safe walkways and crosswalks!

Thank you, Mrs. Nickinson. You have pointed out the tragic losses transpiring daily in our community, and it would not surprise me to learn that these fatalities set some national record. The cause of the matter must be investigated and real measures taken to resolve it.

But in the instance of Perdido Key Drive, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and it comes in the form of real pedestrian pathways, and real, marked crosswalks.